Northern Que. Cree nation artists spotlighted at Canadian Music Week

A group of Cree Nation artists from northern Quebec is getting ready to be part of a showcase at Canadian Music Week, the biggest entertainment gathering in the country.

It's happening this week in Toronto. 

Canadian Music Week is on until June 11, bringing together artists, producers and entertainment industry professionals. It is a combination of conferences, a trade exposition, an awards show and a four-day, 40-venue new music festival, showcasing talent from across the country. It is the biggest annual entertainment event in the country.

Fourteen Indigenous artists who are part of N'we Jinan ArtWorks program at inPath will be performing at a showcase during Canadian Music Week on June 9 at The Painted Lady, 218 Ossington Ave in Toronto.

InPath is a Canadian not-for-profit aimed at creating a network for Indigenous youth and artists through arts-based learning, job skills training and mentorship. 

Five of the performers at the Artworks showcase are from northern Quebec Cree communities; CJAY GriZ (Christian Monias); Siibii (Angel Baribeau); Vangorian (Franklin Moar); Jossée Bernier and SLICE (Silas Katapatuk). 

Below are their thoughts about attending Canadian Music Week, connecting with other Indigenous creators, the healing power of music, finding their authentic voice and their goals as an artist.

CJAY GriZ (Christian Monias), 31, is Oji-Cree originally from northern Manitoba, but living in the northern Quebec Cree community of Chisasibi.

CJAY has been a music producer/songwriter since his early teens, and first gained work as an artist through the N'we Jinan program. His styles range from hip-hop and trap to R&B and pop music. 

"What I want to be able to do in the future is help more kids. And maybe have my own workshops and I also want to get a studio started in Chisasibi so people can own their craft. A place where people can rehearse, practice, make and record," he said.

"I think that's very much needed in this community. We need a facility where we can own our own culture and craft. It's going to be exciting for all of us to get together [at Canadian Music Week]. That energy is going to be what we need to put on a really good show." 

Siibii (Angel Baribeau), 21, is a queer, non-binary singer songwriter and recycle artist from the Cree Nation of Mistissini in northern Quebec.

Their debut solo album For Those I Love(d) hit the top 3 on Apple Music Pop Canada charts. Their second single Wish We Were Older hit No. 1 on NCI FM National Indigenous Music Countdown on SiriusXM Canada. Siibii will have a second showcase on June 8 at the Cameron House in Toronto for winning Canada's Walk of Fame RBC Emerging Musician Award in 2021. 

"[Changing my name to Siibii] is part of reclaiming my identity and self discovery that is going on. I was raised by someone who told me to always be proud of being Quebecois, but I'm mostly Eenou. So I carried this name, but it doesn't have the same meaning for me as it does for my father, for example," they said.